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Oral history interview with Charles O. Porter, 1986 July 18-November 7
Overview of the Collection
- Interviewee
- Porter, Charles O. (Charles Orlando), 1919-2006
- Title
- Oral history interview with Charles O. Porter
- Dates
- 1986 July 18-November 7 (inclusive)1986-07-181986-11-07
- Quantity
- .1 cubic feet, (15 audiocassettes (13 hr., 32 min., 13 sec.) + 1 photograph (black and white; 7 x 5 in.))
- Collection Number
- SR 1125
- Summary
- Oral history interview with Charles O. Porter conducted by James Strassmaier from July 18-November 7, 1986, as part of the Oregon Legislature Oral History Series. Porter was a congressman from Oregon.
- Repository
-
Oregon Historical Society Research Library
1200 SW Park Avenue
Portland, OR
97205
Telephone: 503-306-5240
Fax: 503-219-2040
libreference@ohs.org - Access Restrictions
-
Collection is open for research.
- Languages
- English
- Sponsor
- This project is supported in whole or part by the Institute of Museum and Library Services through the Library Services and Technology Act, administered by the State Library of Oregon.
Biographical NoteReturn to Top
Charles Orlando Porter was born in Klamath Falls, Oregon, in 1919. His family moved to Eugene while he was still young. He was interested in journalism at an early age and wrote editorials for his high school paper as well as the Eugene Morning News. He graduated from Harvard with a bachelor of science degree in 1941. From 1941 to 1945, he served in the U.S. Army in Panama and Europe during World War II. He and Priscilla Porter married in 1943 while he was on leave; they later had four children. He returned to Harvard after the war, and graduated from Harvard Law School in 1947. He and his young family returned to Oregon, where he took a job on the state Highway Commission, practiced law in Eugene, and became involved in politics. He was a Democratic politician and represented the Oregon Fourth District in the United States House of Representatives from 1956 to 1960. After leaving Congress, he returned to private law practice and attempted several more runs for office. He died in 2006.
Other Descriptive InformationReturn to Top
Forms part of the Oregon Legislature Oral History Series.
Other Descriptive InformationReturn to Top
Incomplete transcript (186 pages), handwritten index (32 pages), and black and white contact sheet are available for in-person use at the Oregon Historical Society Research Library.
Content DescriptionReturn to Top
This oral history interview with Charles O. Porter was conducted by Jim Strassmaier at Porter's office in Eugene, Oregon, from July 18 to November 7, 1986. In this interview, Porter discusses his family background and early life in Eugene, including his education at Eugene High School, working for newspapers in the area, and his early political ambitions. He then talks about attending Harvard. He speaks at length about his experiences in Panama, and later in Europe, during World War II. He then talks about returning to Harvard, job prospects, and returning to Oregon to take a job on the state Highway Commission. He discusses practicing law in Eugene, including his experience with various judges, some of the cases he worked on, and the administration of justice. He then talks about getting involved in politics, including being offered the position of assistant to the U.S. attorney general by Monroe Sweetland. He turned down the offer and ran for Congress instead.
Porter discusses representing the Fourth District of Oregon in the U.S. House of Representatives from 1956 to 1960, particularly his campaigns. He talks about his fellow legislators, including Wayne Morse, Maurine Neuberger, Edith Green, and Joseph McCarthy. He discusses parliamentary procedure and legislation he worked on, particularly on foreign policy in Latin America. He also talks about his relationship with the press; his involvement with Amnesty International; and his activities as a lawyer after his 1960 re-election loss. He discusses many of the cases he worked on, including on prisoners' rights, fluoridation, sterilization, and a case against the Air Force. He closes the interview by talking about his family and the livability of Oregon.
Use of the CollectionReturn to Top
Alternative Forms Available
Audio and photograph available online in OHS Digital Collections.
Preferred Citation
Oral history interview with Charles O. Porter, by Jim Strassmaier, SR 1125, Oregon Historical Society Research Library.
Restrictions on Use
Copyright to interview is held by the Oregon Historical Society. Licensed under: Creative Commons, BY-NC-SA: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/4.0/. Copyright to photograph has not been determined, and permission for use may require additional authorization from copyright holders.
Administrative InformationReturn to Top
Detailed Description of the CollectionReturn to Top
Container(s) | Description | Dates |
---|---|---|
Cassette | ||
1-2 | Oral history interview with Charles O. Porter | 1986 July 18 |
3 | Oral history interview with Charles O. Porter | 1986 July 25 |
4 | Oral history interview with Charles O. Porter | 1986 August 1 |
5 | Oral history interview with Charles O. Porter | 1986 August 8 |
6-8 | Oral history interview with Charles O. Porter | 1986 August 29 |
9-10 | Oral history interview with Charles O. Porter | 1986 September 5 |
11-12 | Oral history interview with Charles O. Porter | 1986 October 24 |
13 | Oral history interview with Charles O. Porter | 1986 October 31 |
14 | Oral history interview with Charles O. Porter | 1986 October 31-1986 November 7 |
15 | Oral history interview with Charles O. Porter | 1986 November 7 |
Folder | ||
SR1125 | Photograph of Charles O. Porter | 1986 July 25 |
Names and SubjectsReturn to Top
Subject Terms
- Justice, Administration of--Oregon
- Lawyers--Oregon--Eugene
- Legislation--Oregon
- Legislators--Oregon
- Political campaigns--Oregon
- World War, 1939-1945--Personal narratives, American
Personal Names
- Porter, Charles O. (Charles Orlando), 1919-2006
Corporate Names
- Democratic Party (Or.)
- United States. Congress. House
Geographical Names
- Oregon--Politics and government--20th century
Form or Genre Terms
- interviews
Other Creators
-
Personal Names
- Strassmaier, James (interviewer)